Friday, December 1, 2017

Pop Rocks - QuiltCon Michael Miller Challenge Quilt

Update:  I am happy to report that I released a pattern for Pop Rocks and it is available in my shop in both Digital and Printed Formats.

The deadline for entries to QuiltCon 2018 was last night and I was happy to be able to get my challenge quilt finished and entered in time.


I made a quilt I cam calling Pop Rocks for the Michael Miller challenge.  The challenge was to create a quilt using at least two of the prints from the Our Yard collection by Sarah Campbell for Michael Miller Fabrics along with any Cotton Couture solids.  My idea was to create a "pop" with the Our Yard prints on a monochromatic, minimalist black and white quilt.

The design began in my head as more of a quarter Dresden plate design with the curves going in random directions.  From idea to actual construction, I moved to more of a paper pieced curve design (which had way too many pieces per block) to finally a template based design using curved piecing.

I played around with the design in EQ8 until I was happy with the blocks and the placement of the Our Yard prints and then I set to work making the quilt.  Here are some in progress pictures as the quilt came together...




After the blocks were sewn together, I added a black border to help ground the blocks and extend the black negative space around the design.  The quilt top measured about 43" x 51".  I used Warm & White batting (by the Warm Company) for this quilt, I find that quilts made with batting hang really well.

I took a long time to figure out how to quilt this quilt and finally decided that straight lines would play with all of the curves in the blocks really well.  I started out creating 3 chunks of straight lines, with the lines within each chunk having varied spacing (shown in red).

Then I echoed the chunks with more randomly spaced lines (shown in green).  

I used a medium gray Aurifil thread in 50 wt (#1158) which showed up enough to give impact but also blended somewhat with both the white and black fabrics.  



I even was able to use up all of the extra Our Yard fabric in the pieced back (you can see the quilting a little more on the back too)...


Overall, I am happy out how the quilt turned out and especially how the yellow fabric pops against all of the whites, grays, and blacks.  I hope that Pop Rocks gets into QuiltCon 2018, I'll let you know :)

Have you submitted a quilt to QuiltCon?

Quilt Stats:
   Name: Pop Rocks
   Size: 41" x 53"
   Design: Original by me
   Fabrics: Our Yard by Sarah Campbell and Cotton Couture, both by Michael Miller
   Batting: Warm & White by the Warm Company
   Thread: Aurifil 50wt white 2021 for piecing, Aurifil 50wt medium gray 1158 for quilting
   Quilting Design: Randomly spaced straight lines in multiple directions


Here are some professional photographs by Amy Garro of Quilt Photography Co.











25 comments:

  1. Very, very, very cool quilt! They sort of look like gears to me, which I love! Black / white / yellow / gray is also one of my favorite color schemes. I hope you get in, because I'll be at QuiltCon to see it!

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  2. I like it!! Somehow your design gives us SO much to explore!

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  3. Hi Cheryl,
    I absolutely agree with Liz above as I see gears in this pattern. Very modern and I love the pops of yellow here and there. It definitely draws the eye yet it lets you appreciate the black, white, and gray even more. The border pulls it all together. Really a nice finish. ~smile~ Roseanne

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  4. This looks awesome! I love it. Congrats on your finish and a wonderful design.

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  6. Awesome. That medium grey looks fabulous on both the fabric, but especially the black.

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  7. What a fabulous quilt!!! Thanks for taking us through your design idea and also for showing us the quilting plan!! Congrats on a fantastic quilt!!! It will show well at QuiltCon!!! Way to go!!!!

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  8. I love this quilt and design, Cheryl!! I am so excited that you were able to get it finished in time to submit. The quilting shows up great on the back, and any time you can do a pieced backing to use up left over fabric, that's a win. Good luck with your entry; I'd really love to see it in Pasadena!

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  9. I don't know about Pop Rocks but you certainly do, spectacular is how I would describe it. I love it Cheryl, and you certainly deserve to do well at Quilt Con with this entry.

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  10. Hurray, you finished in time! Great use of curves and color both. Good luck Cheryl. I look forward to hearing if it is selected. :-)

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  11. Lovely! Thank you for sharing the way you did your quilting as well.

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  12. Your pop rocks quilt truly pops! Great use of the challenge fabrics!!

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  13. I thought they were gear cogs, so is it " Changing Gears". Love the quilting lines. and choices for the colours.

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  14. That looks like a lot of fun fabric and design play! Good luck!!

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  15. Wow Cheryl - you are so creative! I love this! The pops of yellow are perfect and I really like what you did with the quilting. Good luck!

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  16. It turned out great Cheryl! I hope it get accepted so everyone can see it in person. Good luck!!

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  17. What a pretty quilt Cheryl. I love your design and the fabrics.

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  18. Congrats on the design and finish. Good luck.

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  19. This is the first quilt for a while, I have actually jumped when I saw. I love this, it is so so cool. Well done and on the finish too. Speaking of the finish, I have coincidentally tried for a similar quilting on a bubbles quilt I am making. Your quilting is great. My quilting is horrible. I have fallen out of love with my quilt!

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  20. That's a really cool mod quilt!

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  21. I absolutely love this quilt, it's such a cool design - it reminds me of cogs. I can't imagine that it won't get accepted into Quiltcon so I'm wishing you all the success once it's there. Love the bug print too

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  22. A fabulous design, Cheryl!! Great idea with the straight line quilting, it compliments the curves wonderfully. Did you name it after the candy? :)

    -Soma

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  23. A very dramatic finish! Good luck with the Quilt Con submission.

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Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment!